GODZILLA (2014) - Review

Godzilla (2014)

Action Adventure, 2014
2 hours, 3 minutes
Written by Max Borenstein
Directed by Gareth Edwards
Rated PG-13 for "intense sequences of destruction, mayhem and creature violence"

Starring
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Ken Wanatabe
Elizabeth Olsen
Bryan Cranston
Sally Hawkins
David Stratharin
Juliette Binoche
Carson Bolde


"Let them fight."

Since 1954, Godzilla has been considered to be the greatest monster in all of cinema. The creature has appeared in nearly 30 films throughout the years, and he keeps growing bigger with each reappearance. Although the King of the Monsters has been on hiatus for several years, director Gareth Edwards' aptly named Godzilla breathes new fire to the franchise.

The film begins in Japan, 1999. Joe Brody (Bryan Cranston), a power plant employee, discovers strange tremor patterns in an earthquake that destroys the plant, the accident killing his wife (Juliette Binchoe). Fifteen years later, Joe's son Ford (Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Kick-Ass) is an explosives expert for the military. Joe, who still lives in Japan, is convinced that the disaster 15 years prior was a coverup for something bigger. Ford meets him in Japan to uncover the mystery. Once there, they meet Ishiro Serizawa (Ken Wanatabe), a scientist who reveals they are covering up a gigantic monster egg that feeds on radiation. The monster, dubbed the Muto, hatches and causes havoc around the world. Soon after, Godzilla, who Serizawa calls, "the Alpha Predator," appears to hunt the Muto. Soon after, a second Muto appears. The military plans to use a nuclear bomb to lure the creatures to a single point where they will duke it out.

Monster movie fanatics will definitely get their kicks here. The highlights are definitely the battles between the Mutos and Godzilla. Special effects have come a long way from a guy in a rubber costume stomping around a small model of a major metropolitan city. The monsters look gorgeous. Even the sound design was stellar and noticeably strong, a particular note I find to be uncommon when discussing films. The visual and sound teams on this movie have really outdone themselves. The cinematography is is standard fare, but it somehow ramps up in the final battle of the film. From the moment the paratroopers make that jump (as shown in the trailer and some posters), the visuals take it all the way to 11, with brilliant shot composition and lighting effects. It's a very memorable experience. 

It should also be noted that the monsters are huge. Like, HUGE. No, huge is too generic of a word. Let's try GARGANTUAN or COLOSSAL or MOUNTAINOUS. One of the first shots of Godzilla is actually just a shot of his spiky back. In this scene, a few soldiers are standing on top of a hotel in Hawaii. The Muto creature has already arrived. The soldiers fire red flares into the air. We watch them float through the air and over Godzilla's immense, spiky back. It's just his back. And that's the first glimpse you get of the big guy. It's an impressive shot that showcases just how fucking big he is. 

But the movie isn't just about monsters, it's about the people. Although there has been some debate about this, I found the family dynamic to be compelling. Sure, Ford and his wife, Elle (Elizabeth Olsen) have a very basic relationship as far as films go, I bought it. They don't share a lot of screen time, but I felt deeply sympathetic for both her and Ford as they desperately worked to reunite with their son. It's not anything to cry over and it certainly didn't redefine anything, but it's believable. And in the end, isn't that what's important?

Godzilla might be fucking awesome, but it definitely isn't perfect. The film has a tendency to lag a bit. The first monster doesn't show up until maybe 40 minutes in and Godzilla himself doesn't show up until maybe just after the one hour mark. In addition, Bryan Cranston, who steals the show early on, is only in the first half of the film. Cranston builds a compelling character and boasts a great performance, but he doesn't have as much screen time as he should. 

Overall, Godzilla is a solid monster movie with a compelling, if not original, human element. The visuals are strong all throughout the film and there are a few strong twists along the way. It's a fantastic way to kick off the summer blockbuster season. 

9/10